THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee,

vs.
LEONARDO SOLIS @ NARDING, CARLITO SOLIS, ALFREDO SOLIS @ ADO and GENEROSO
SOLIS @ IROYdefendants-appellants.
FACTS:

On or about March 4, 1988 at 12:00 midnight at barangay Binday,

Municipality of San Fabian, province of Pangasinan, Philippines the above named
accused, conspiring, confederating and mutually helping one another, with intent to
kill, armed with a dagger, a bolo and stones, with treachery and evident
premeditation and taking advantage of superior strength, did then and there,
wilfully, unlawfully and feloniously assault and attack Benjamin Bao-ingan y Rollog,
inflicting upon him the following injuries, to wit:
contusion over the right supra-orbital area superimposed abrasions
abrasions (R) facial area
stab wound, chest pointing downward, 3/4 inch in size at (R) lateral mid-clavicular
line between 9-10 ICS 2.5-3 inches in depth, hitting the diaphragm and the liver, but
2 inches wound inside.
stab wound, chest at the level of 6-7 intercostal space mid-clavicular line (L), 1
2/4 inches in size, 8 1/2 inches in depth, hitting the heart and left lobes of the lungs,
pointing upward.
which injuries directly caused the instantaneous death of said Benjamin Bao-ingan y
Rollog, to the damage and prejudice of his heirs, with aggravating circumstance of
recidivism against accused Leonardo Solis only.
ISSUES:
1. Whether or not the mitigating circumstance of voluntary surrender can be
appreciated in favour of Alfredo, Generoso and Carlito Solis.
HELD:
The surrender of Alfredo on July 7, 1988 and of Generoso and Carlito on July 6, 1988
do not constitute voluntary surrender. In order that voluntary surrender may be
appreciated, it is necessary that the same be spontaneous in such a manner that it
shows the intent of the accused to surrender unconditionally to the authorities,
either because he acknowledges his guilt or because he wishes to save them the
trouble and expense necessarily incurred in his search and capture. (People vs.
Ablao, 183 SCRA 658, 669 [1990])

There is no spontaneous surrender in this case for the three appellants.

Carlito fled right after the stabbing incident. He knew that the policemen were
already after him (TSN, August 14, 1989, p. 22) but it was only after a lapse of a
period of four months that he surrendered to the police. Alfredo, on the other hand,
knew in May that he was one of the suspects (TSN, April 26, 1989, p. 27) but he did
not take any steps to go to the Municipal Hall or the police station to inform the
authorities of his non-participation in the crime (TSN, April 26, 1989, pp. 27-28) until
July, two months after knowing that he was a suspect.

In the testimony of Pat. Jaime Alvear, he stated that he and his companion went to
Baraoas with a warrant of arrest issued against the accused and it was there when
the uncle of Generoso and Carlito presented the two appellants to them.